Med Lav
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Comparative Study
[The monitoring of cholinesterases in farm workers and tradesmen exposed to phosphoric esters and carbamates].
Cholinesterase (ChE) levels (Ellman method) were monitored in 90 subjects (69 males and 21 females) exposed to carbamate and organophosphate pesticides (78 agricultural workers and 12 pesticide vendors). Pre-exposure baseline values of plasma and red blood cell cholinesterase activities were defined for each subject with two blood samples (23 workers) or three blood samples (59 workers) taken almost thirty days after the last exposure. After control of intra-individual variation, 8 subjects with only one pre-exposure value and 13 with a coefficient of variation above 30% were excluded. ⋯ The figures show a greater sensitivity of plasma ChE activity in acute exposure, probably due to a poor reliability in detection of erythrocyte ChE by local laboratories. The maximum reduction (38%, 95% C. I. = 22%-53%) in plasma ChE activity was observed within six days of the last exposure in loaders and appliers.